Tesla is already facing investigations from U.S. regulators over its full self-driving (FSD) technology. The concern involves about 2.9 million cars, nearly all Teslas with this advanced driving system. This inquiry was prompted in part by reports that Tesla’s vehicles have run red lights and engaged in other law-breaking actions while driving in FSD mode.
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is leading the charge in investigating Tesla’s autonomous driving features. Yet they are laser-focused on making sure that they are safe and legal. The agency recently gave the automaker a five-week extension to answer those allegations. This step extends the initial deadline beyond January 19, 2025. This extension gives Tesla more time to develop a comprehensive accord response detailing how they intend to address and mitigate the issues pointed out by regulators.
The complaints mainly allege that Tesla vehicles engaged in dangerous conduct while operating autonomously. Each of these moves is deeply troubling on its own. They imply a technology that is capable of doing all driving tasks by itself, without any human intervention whatsoever. The inquiry into these assertions illustrates the continuing argument of whether or not autonomous technology is safe and trustworthy.
Alongside grappling with the fallout of the ongoing investigation, Tesla is currently testing a substantially improved version of its self-driving technology. This latest version seeks to make FSD more powerful, focusing on removing the need for a driver to intervene with regularity. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has been decidedly enthusiastic about his intentions to deploy this new, improved version. In that post, he promised astounding breakthroughs in self-driving tech during the next few years.
The company’s ability to address regulatory scrutiny and improve its technology will be crucial as it seeks to maintain consumer trust and market leadership in the electric vehicle sector. As the deadline approaches, stakeholders will be closely monitoring how Tesla navigates this critical juncture in its development of self-driving capabilities.
